Relationship of Body Composition with the Strength and Functional Capacity of People over 70 Years

Abstract

Background: Aging is a multifactorial physiological phenomenon, in which a series of changes in the body composition occur, such as a decrease in muscle mass and bone mineral density and an increase in fat mass. This study aimed to determine the relationship of muscle mass, osteoporosis, and obesity with the strength and functional capacity of non-dependent people over 70 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed, whose study population was all people aged over 70 years, living independently and attending academic and recreational programs. Muscle strength and functional capacity of the participants were assessed by isometric exercises of lower and upper limbs and by four tests taken from the Senior Fitness Test, respectively. Bone mineral density, total mass, fat mass, total lean mass, arms lean mass, legs lean mass, and appendicular lean mass (ALM) was calculated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Differences in muscle strength and functional capacity, according to the sex, muscle mass, mineral bone density and fat mass, were measured by χ2 test, independent samples Student’s t-test, analysis of covariance and a 2-factor analysis of covariance; Results: 143 subjects were included in the study group. Men and women with an adequate amount of ALM adjusted for body mass index (BMI) had a maximal dynamic biceps strength in a single repetition, a maximal isometric leg extension strength, a maximal dynamic leg extension strength in a single repetition, a maximum right hand grip strength and maximum hand grip strength (the highest). Significantly higher values were observed in the maximal isometric biceps’ strength in men with osteoporosis. Obese men had less isometric strength in the biceps and took longer to perform the chair stand test; Conclusions: Men and women with an adequate amount of ALM adjusted for BMI obtained better results in tests of muscle strength and functional capacity. However, osteoporosis and obesity are not related to these parameters.

Sarcopenia, Exercise and Quality of Life

“…This translates into an increased risk of poor quality of life, physical disability, frequent falls and weakness, and death. In this sense, four manuscripts [ 3 , 8 , 9 , 11 ] in this special issue, corresponding to 33.3% of the total, corroborate that muscle loss is the typical consequence of all older adults. The study by Patiño-Villada et al [ 8 ] considers the combination of high muscle mass and shallow fat mass a highly healthy variety.…”

“…This special edition of the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ( IJERPH ) has brought together eleven research manuscripts [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ] and a brief report [ 12 ]. This special issue, entitled “ Sarcopenia, Exercise and Quality of Life ” gathered 12 manuscripts [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]; four (33.3%) manuscripts are related to the impact of physical activity concerning sarcopenia [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 ]. Two manuscripts were used for the Wii Fit ® games as an intervention tool for physical activity in institutionalized elderly patients [ 4 , 6 ].…”

“…These results, brought in from a sample of 143 non-institutionalized older subjects aged 70 years, estimate that appendicular lean mass (ALM)—the sum of lean mass in arms and legs excluding fat and bone mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)—is the body measure most closely related to muscle strength loss. This positions ALM as a priority clinical measure of sarcopenia over muscle mass or osteoporosis [ 8 ]. However, Myong-Wu et al [ 9 ] reported muscle quality as the identifying marker of the sarcopenic patient.…”

“…The twelve manuscripts [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ] published in this Special Issue “ Sarcopenia, Exercise and Quality of Life ” highlight non-pharmacological interventions based on therapeutic physical exercise, with instruments and activities adapted to the older adult population. New diagnostic techniques for sarcopenia are reflected to successfully identify the sarcopenic elderly, and modern descriptors of sarcopenia based on different body composition measurements are established.…”

“…This special edition of the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) has brought together eleven research manuscripts [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and a brief report [12]. This special issue, entitled "Sarcopenia, Exercise and Quality of Life" gathered 12 manuscripts [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]; four (33.3%) manuscripts are related to the impact of physical activity concerning sarcopenia [4,6,7,10].…”